Andrej Kramarić scored a beauty Friday night in Hoffenheim’s 3-1 victory of Bochum. In the 43′, Krama received the ball at the top of the box, took one touch, hit the brakes letting the Bochum defender slide right past him, and cooly shot the ball just inside the near post. It was as cool, calm, and collected as you can be in the box. It was Krama’s fifth Bundesliga goal of the season in 11 matches played.
Ante Budimir scored from the penalty spot for Osasuna Sunday in a 1-1 draw against Cadiz. After a quiet, two-week scoreless lull, Budimir is back on the board with his eighth La Liga goal of the season in 16 matches played. Currently, Budimir is tied in 4th place for most goals in Spain this season. Not too shabby for a 32 year-old striker.
Luka Modrić returned from a minor knock Saturday to play 70 minutes in a 1-1 draw against Real Betis. Modrić received a 7/10 grade from Goal.com as he was “Sublime to watch, as usual. Broke out the usual array of tricks and flicks, and looked the most likely to unlock the Betis defence for long stretches. Ran out of legs after an hour, and Madrid were markedly worse when he wasn’t on the pitch.” Real Madrid remain top of league in La Liga as Girona’s match was suspended Sunday due to a fan’s death in the stadium during play.
Both Mateo Kovačić and Joško Gvardiol got the start for Manchester City Sunday in a slim 2-1 victory over relegation candidates Luton Town. Kovačić played 83 minutes before being taken off. He received a disappointing 3/10 grade from 90min.com as he was “Painfully uninspired on the ball, tamely rolling it square when faced with the faintest whisper of orange.” Gvardiol played 69 minutes and received a 5/10 from 90min.com as he was “Unusually adventurous, cantering up the left flank regularly with mixed success.”
Matija Frigan played 54 minutes and scored in Westerlo’s 2-1 victory over Kortrjik Friday night.
Go hvraska go!!!!!!
Sucic almost just had a pair of goals. One taken back because of offside
Damn! Too bad. That 1st goal was nice tho!
it was a deflection that went in.
Glad to hear that the injury has not seemed to hamper him, it seems.
I dream of the day when our backline proves the point, a good defense is a good offense. We definitely have the potential talent. Way to go Erlic!
I love how Ante Budimir, is doing is best Mauri Warrior look, before he kicks the penalty in the photo. Nice,….. works every time.
All we need is budimir and krama to stay how they are and to liva to go all world one more time for a month
Yes, Kramaric last goal was a beauty. Hope everything falls in place for the team for the Dalic and Modric last hurrah. That we qualified, in the end, with two victories, was a nice Christmas gift.
Erlic scores
How was the goal by Erlic??
Nutmegged three players and panenka’d the goalkeeper.
Sosa Assist stats in Germany were ridiculous…hope he can find his form at Ajax
Agreed, keeping the faith with him, as well as kova.
Little correction: Girona beat Barcelona yesterday. It was the Granada match that was abandoned.
Maminjo mentioned the Brazilian kid for Dinamo
https://www.croatiaweek.com/dinamos-brazilian-football-wonderkid-to-get-croatian-citizenship/
He does look real slick. Ya it’s a kid but in 4 years time he is potentially ready for the big stage if he is as good his agent says
this is shameful but his future mates on national team will be additional non hrvati.
Don’t worry. The Nepalese only watch football, they don’t play it.
Croatia will be kicking France Ass soon in soccer. Yes!!, …..we can beat them in their own game.
Even better news, Ireland just instituted the new Correct Thought laws, to crack down on wayward Irish people who don’t agree with the idea of massive immigration as the perfect the solution to destroy the idea of the nation state, and develop their national soccer team, and also people that don’t want them spend more on housing for immigrants, than their own homeless people. Need to get rid of these disgusting people like that, who don’t know how to play excellent soccer anyway, good riddance to them.
The Irish would probably be ranked in the Top 5 moving forward like us as well, which is really cool! That is so Awesome, congratulations to Croatia and Ireland on their new coming success in soccer! Fantastic! Sláinte! As usual, Nothing to see here folks.
Zivi….Yo, or however you say it, it really does not matter. Corporate Disneyland Dublin/Dalmatia here we come!
Ireland goes APOCALYPTIC and U.S. is next:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YvGHc8ioH4
Sucic assisted in Salzburg’s 1-0 win at Rapid Vienna.
This is the best clip I could find lol.
https://www.tiktok.com/@skysportaustria/video/7310597379579727136
LASK won 3-1 at bottom side Austria Lustenau after trailing 1-0 at the break. Ljubicic came off the bench in the 55′ and scored his team’s third goal during stoppage time.
Kova’s making progress. Instead of passing it back towards his own goal, he now passes it square every time he touches the ball. If we are lucky, he’ll learn how to advance the ball forward by the time Euro starts.
We don’t have to beat a dead horse with him.
Modric unexpectedly had a much longer than expected career as a World Class midfielder, so the need for Kovacic to take over the reigns from Modric was deemed moot.
Modric was supposed to retire after the World Cup in 2018 (at age 33) but he managed to last two more tournaments (and counting).
We also still have Brozovic (who is only two years older than Kovacic) and he is currently second in command in our midfield. He would be leading our midfield in case Modric retires after these Euros.
Honestly, if Rakitic never retired, Kovacic would still be on the bench for us.
Someone here said it best when they said that Kovacic is a good “passenger” in the midfield.
That’s true. He’s good enough to maintain your possession and level of creativity, but he won’t lead your midfield.
Since he will be 30 years old at these upcoming Euros, he’s no longer a ‘future’ piece.
Baturina and Sucic are already being groomed for our midfield, and whoever else pans out from the several midfield youngsters we have coming up the pipeline. Who knows. Maybe that Brazilian kid on Dinamo’s youth team (Belinho) turns out to be the real deal, or maybe Rokas actually does switch over to us. Lots can happen. But Kovacic will be done in a couple of tournaments from now, that’s for sure.
Kova had a stinker. What else is new?
Udogie 1st goal for Spurs (finally – well deserved)
Look at the highlight – his positioning in the build-up (smartly pushing fwd to free area) – gets the ball – excellent composure and footwork for nice spin and out to Son on the left – then smart run into the box – to arrive at exact time of cross (and just past relevant defenders and the keeper) so he can slot it in
This is the “gold standard” for LB position in the Premier League
Luton not as bad as you’d think – Barkley and Townsend have been highlights – they almost beat Arsenal mid week
Barkley in particular has been very good – he’s often held his own – both offensively and defensively – in midfield this year vs. best in premier league
He just did his trademark move from deep to run right past Silva/Rodri and pass to Townsend on the wing – Gvardiol should know Townsend is going to bust down the wing and cross it in (he doesn’t have the same pace anymore at 32 y.o.) – but gives too much space b/w him and Townsend – and than barely puts his leg up to block the cross (which gets over his foot into the box for a header goal)
Barkley beautiful dribble 68′ minute – turn and slalom (right around Kovacic who stood there flat footed) – too bad his shot went wide (he deserved to score)
Ironically – we’d love Kovacic to be the one making those runs around others….
Gvardiol brought off too….
Stanisic is extremely frustrated at leverkusen now.
https://www.bavarianfootballworks.com/platform/amp/2023/12/8/23993418/bayern-munich-josip-stanisic-on-his-time-at-bayer-leverkusen-bundesliga-thomas-tuchel-transfer-news
Sosa: hopeless in ajax..dropped to 3rd choice LB..losing out to two academy players at LF and CB. Hato and martha
Caleta Car. Seldom see him play for
Lyon
Musa: third choice CF now..never scored for 2 months. Lost his spot to another danish striker promoted from b team
Pasalic: lack of goals and assists for months.
Brekalo: gone case.
Dijon: never started a match for months
Basic: not even registered for lazio CL squad
In conclusion: we need orsic perisic back. To support kramaric and budimir. We need pongracic erlic bradaric who are playing regularly.
Yea the Sosa, Musa and Stanišić situations suck.
Dion is still young and playing in a top-4 league, so it’s not the end of the World if he’s not starting regularly.
But why are you so concerned about the form of players who are not even on the National Team?
Ćaleta-Car, Brekalo, Bašić are not part of our present or future.
Does Union Berlin need a leftback or center forward? =P
Stipe Biuk did not get off the bench in LAFC’s MLS Cup loss today.
I don’t believe he played in any of the playoff matches.
Kuda Stipe Biuk? Like my Stari says “sve je to boranija”. Meaning if you’re hungry, it’s there; to eat. It’s not, however, going to amaze you with its quality. I guess old man grew up on beans and peas, but it’s still not a ribeye. Marco P looks to be a sirloin at least so let’s run with the fresh blood. Bog zna da nama treba. Idemo momci
Biuk made his choice. Took the easier money, but the harder path to the National Team.
We’ve got guys like Marco Pašalić now. I’m sure there will be another winger prospect or two coming up the pipeline. Will be almost impossible for Biuk to be considered a future prospect for us now.
Maminjo you have boarded the Marco pasalic hype train too I see but your forgotten son Josip Brekalo is tarnished goods now ?
NOBODY was pumping up brekalo like you were a few years back?
Let’s hope you haven’t cursed him.
I pump up all the big talents. Gvardiol, Brekalo, you name it.
Brekalo was a huge talent, and he did well with us in his early caps too.
He didn’t work on his fitness over the years but a part of his (under) development is mental, and I think he has an ego problem.
I soured on him after he had that solid year in Torino but he thought the club was below him and left (even though they offered him the moon). He never recovered after that.
You missed your calling Maminjo you should have been a lawyer 😉
I have no clue if Biuk is good or not. But he left HNL for MLS. That is a step up. While Pasalic went from Germany to HNL and that is a step down. Neither story is written.
MLS is not a step up from HNL.
It pains me to say that MLS is better than HNL.
The big difference being that most of the HNL players are actually Croatian and a feeder program for the National Team.
MLS is better. Better pay. The infrastructure is much better. Did any of you guys watch the HNL games this weekend and fields they played on. MLS is showing they are good in buying players for cheap in S. America. Problem in MLS is too many teams. But league is better.
Infrastructure is better everywhere outside Croatia. Hajduk has one astroturf field for all their youth levels combined and only one grass field for their senior team to practice on.
Every country in Europe is better than that, but that’s not what makes a good player.
MLS has better pay and bigger names, but it’s not at all a “step up” for a player like Biuk.
Low quality football tactics, along with playing alongside retirees and low-ceiling youth players will stunt any development for Biuk, and it also keeps him away from Europe and the Cro National Team (eliminating any exposure he can get from mid-table European leagues which would actually put him on a good development path).
He’s going nowhere in that bush league.
he was going nowhere to begin with.
If all fairness, Biuk was given every opportunity to succeed by the coaching staff and failed.
None of the coaches in the HNL will be confused with Jose Mourinho, yet how do young guys like Pašalić and Baturina improve and succeed to become important guys coming off the bench in the last two National Team games?
I watch both leagues and it’s not even close. MLS is better. As I’ve said before, I’ll take the HNL because it actually develops players for our National Team.
Simply put, Biuk, showed some flashes at Hajduk, hit a peak (like thousands of other players we’ve seen over the years) and is not good enough.
……………………..Budimir…………………….
Ivanusec……………………………..Marco P
……………Kramaric……Modric…………….
………………………Brozo………………………
Sosa……….Gvardiol…..Erlic……………JJ
………………………………………………………
………………………Liva………………………..
Looks good!
I’m actually currently feeling more comfortable in our potential forward status currently then our defence and keeping side
Let’s hope it all peaks for one month this summer
Then if we bomb out of World Cup qualifying like Italy did so
Be it
It’s all about form.
We were awesome in September but awful in October, all because of injuries and form.
Krama is back in form. Hopefully Ivanušec can get back to form (when he was killing it prior to his injury).
Budimir looks like he’s in good form.
Sosa, Stanišić, Jura, and Šutalo have had up-and-down form these past couple of months. But all that matters is how they’re feeling in June.
@Dannyj
Our D is going to be prone to mistakes, they’re not proven defenders. From Gvardi to Jura, they all have shortcomings. Our mid has to be solid with our traditional wing play (heathy Perija) and Marco P while Broz and Luka hold the middle. I say Budimir and Krama if they’re on form, Dalić saving his best stunt yet?
If we are able to get Livi and D play solid, we score the goal against Spain or Italy easily to advance. Mi smo tu
He set up that first goal beautifully too
A hot budimir and Krama could be enough to take us deep
Tell me I’m wrong
It definitely would be a good starting prerequisite.
It would be good. Nobody wants to defend Budimir in the air, and nobody wants to defend Kramarić on the ground. Both of them hqve great off-the-ball movement, and they both know how to play their positions defensively.
Wish there was a like button here, you’re on point GAD. Very few people here actually understand nogomet bc they played/coached. Ante, get the upvote buttons bro 2024 lookin ass